The Oyo State Government has received 70 indigenes evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks targeting foreigners and has commenced moves to reintegrate them into their communities.

The returnees, comprising 42 adults and 28 minors, were formally received on behalf of the state government by the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Migration and Homeland Security, Assistant Controller General of Immigration (rtd.), Segun Adegoke, at the Conference Room of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in Ibadan.

Adegoke, who spoke on behalf of the governor, assured the returnees that their return would not be treated as a failure or the end of their aspirations, but as the beginning of a new chapter.

“Let me begin by saying: You are welcome home. You have returned to your state, to your families, to your communities and to people who recognise you as their own,” he said.

He acknowledged the challenges associated with returning home under difficult circumstances, including loss of livelihoods, emotional distress, disruption of businesses and abandoned plans.

According to him, Governor Makinde had directed that the welfare and successful reintegration of the returnees receive the attention of the state government.

Adegoke said the government was engaging individually with the returnees to understand their experiences, assess their needs and identify areas where appropriate support could be provided.

He urged the returnees to be open during the assessment process, stressing that the objective was to help them regain their productivity and contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State.

The governor’s aide also encouraged them to view their experiences abroad as valuable assets rather than setbacks, noting that the skills, knowledge, exposure, networks and entrepreneurial experience they acquired could be deployed to develop their communities.

“We therefore want you to see your return not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity to enhance yourself and contribute to the development of your communities,” he added.

Adegoke said the state government would work towards creating an enabling environment for the returnees to rebuild their lives and become economically productive members of their communities.

He, however, cautioned young Nigerians against embarking on dangerous journeys in search of opportunities abroad, stressing that migration itself was not the problem, but irregular and unsafe migration.

“Migration, as a global phenomenon, can provide opportunities, but it can also expose people to risks and uncertainties. Please do not allow frustration to push you into irregular migration or other dangerous activities,” he said.

He disclosed that the Oyo State Office of Migration and Homeland Security had continued to engage young people through advocacy and awareness programmes aimed at promoting safe, orderly and regular migration.

The state, he added, was also sensitising youths on legitimate migration opportunities available through migration quotas in some European and American countries.

Adegoke advised Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad to acquire relevant skills that could improve their chances of accessing legal migration channels rather than risking their lives through irregular routes.

He said the state government remained committed to supporting safe and regular migration while also creating conditions that would enable residents to prosper within Oyo State.

As part of efforts to safeguard the returnees’ wellbeing, Adegoke said they had undergone basic medical screening, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks.

He added that the government was assessing their individual needs, health conditions and skills acquired abroad to determine appropriate areas of support and develop sustainable opportunities for them.

Reiterating the Makinde administration’s commitment to the welfare and security of Oyo indigenes wherever they may be, Adegoke said the returnees remained valued members of the state.

“His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has asked me to inform you that Oyo State has not forgotten you. You are sons and daughters of this state. Your welfare, experience and future matter to this administration,” he said.

He assured them that the government would continue working with them to ensure that their return became the foundation for a safer, more productive and secure future.

“Finally, our meeting today is more than an administrative exercise. It is an opportunity for government and citizens to sit together, listen to one another and develop practical solutions,” Adegoke said.

Some of the returnees, while recounting their experiences, described their evacuation from South Africa as painful, particularly because of the circumstances that forced them to leave behind their livelihoods, businesses and future plans.